Metasequoia plant named &#39;WAH-08AG&#39;

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of  Metasequoia  plant named ‘WAH-08AG’, characterized by its bright yellow-green colored foliage that transitions to greyed-orange in the fall, foliage that resists burning with increased temperature and sunlight, and moderately vigorous, compact, dense pyramidal growth habit, is disclosed.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No.62/391,639 filed May 6, 2016.

Latin name of genus and species of plant claimed: Metasequoiaglyptostroboides.

Variety denomination: ‘WAH-08AG’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar ofMetasequoia plant botanically known as Metasequoia glyptostroboides andhereinafter referred to by the cultivar name ‘WAH-08AG’.

The new cultivar originated in a controlled breeding program in Seneca,S.C. during the summer of 2007. The objective of the breeding programwas the development of Metasequoia cultivars having greater heat and suntolerance.

The new Metasequoia cultivar is the result of open-pollination. Thefemale (seed) parent of the new cultivar is ‘Ogon’ also known as ‘GoldRush’, not patented, characterized by its golden foliage that withstandssummer heat and vigorous, open-pyramidal growth habit. The male (pollen)parent of the new cultivar is unknown, but presumed to be ‘SheridanSpire’, not patented, characterized by its bright green foliage, withupward pointed limbs and vigorous, narrow-columnar growth habit. The newcultivar was discovered and selected as a single seedling within theprogeny of the above stated open-pollination. The plant was selected forits compact form and foliage color in the fall of 2008 in a controlledenvironment in Seneca, S.C.

Asexual reproduction of the new cultivar by terminal stem cuttings sinceFebruary 2012 in Seneca, S.C. and West Grove, Pa. has demonstrated thatthe new cultivar reproduces true to type with all of thecharacteristics, as herein described, firmly fixed and retained throughsuccessive generations of such asexual propagation.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The following characteristics of the new cultivar have been repeatedlyobserved and can be used to distinguish ‘WAH-08AG’ as a new and distinctcultivar of Metasequoia plant:

-   -   1. Bright yellow-green colored foliage that transitions to        greyed-orange in the fall;    -   2. Foliage that resists burning with increased temperature and        sunlight; and    -   3. Moderately vigorous, compact, dense pyramidal growth habit.

Plants of the new cultivar differ from plants of the female parentprimarily in having foliage that is more resistant to burning under hightemperature and high sun exposure and in growth habit. Plants of the newcultivar differ from plants of the presumed male parent primarily infoliage color and growth habit.

Of the many commercially available Metasequoia cultivars, the mostsimilar in comparison to the new cultivar is also the female parent,Metasequoia ‘Ogon’, also known as ‘Gold Rush’, not patented. However, inside by side comparisons, plants of the new cultivar differ from plantsof ‘Ogon’ in at least the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new cultivar have foliage coloration that is        more resistant to burning with increased temperature and        sunlight than plants of ‘Ogon’;    -   2. Plants of the new cultivar have foliage coloration that is        different from plants of ‘Ogon’; and    -   3. Plants of the new cultivar have a growth habit that is denser        and more compact than plants of ‘Ogon’.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying photographs show, as nearly true as it is reasonablypossible to make the same in color illustrations of this type, typicalfoliage characteristics of the new cultivar. Colors in the photographsdiffer slightly from the color values cited in the detailed description,which accurately describes the colors of ‘WAH-08AG’. With the exceptionof FIG. 3, the plants were 21 months old and grown for 11 months in anoutdoor nursery in West Grove, Pa.

FIG. 1 illustrates a side view of the overall growth of ‘WAH-08AG’.

FIG. 2 illustrates a close-up view of the foliage.

FIG. 3 illustrates a close-up view of the foliage in fall color.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The new cultivar has not been observed under all possible environmentalconditions to date. Accordingly, it is possible that the phenotype mayvary somewhat with variations in the environment, such as temperature,light intensity, and day length, without, however, any variance ingenotype.

The chart used in the identification of colors described herein is TheR.H.S. Colour Chart of The Royal Horticultural Society, London, England,2015 edition, except where general color terms of ordinary significanceare used. The color values were determined in April 2017 under naturallight conditions in West Grove, Pa. Fall color was taken from the sameplants in August 2016 under natural light conditions in West Grove, Pa.

The following descriptions and measurements describe plants producedfrom semi-hardwood cuttings from stock plants and grown outside in atest field in West Grove, Pa. Plants were 21 months old and grown for 11months in 3 gallon containers utilizing soilless growth medium.Temperatures ranged from an average high of 93.0° F. (33.9° C.) to anaverage low of 8.0° F. (−13.3° C.). Measurements and numerical valuesrepresent averages of typical plants.

-   Botanical classification: Metasequoia glyptostoboides cultivar    ‘WAH-08AG’.-   Parentage:    -   -   Female parent.—‘Ogon’ also known as ‘Gold Rush’, not            patented.        -   Male parent.—Unknown, but presumed to be ‘Sheridan Spire’,            not patented.-   Propagation:    -   -   Type cutting.—Semi-hardwood or hardwood; grafting also            possible.        -   Time to initiate roots in summer.—10 to 14 days.        -   Time to initiate roots in winter.—30 to 45 days.        -   Time to produce a rooted cutting in summer.—30 to 45 days.        -   Time to produce a rooted cutting in winter.—8.5 to 13 weeks.        -   Root description.—Fleshy, medium thickness. Color: 165C.        -   Rooting habit.—Freely branching, dense.-   Plant description:    -   -   Type.—Deciduous conifer.        -   Growth habit and general appearance.—Moderately vigorous,            compact, dense pyramidal form.        -   Commercial crop time.—Approximately 12 months from a rooted            cutting to finish in an 3 gallon pot.        -   Size.—Height from soil to top of plant plane: Approximately            63.0 cm. Width: Approximately 63.0 cm. After approximately            six years growth plant can reach heights to 4.6 m (15 feet)            and widths of 2.0 m to 2.4 m (7 to 8 feet).        -   Trunk.—Diameter at midpoint: Approximately 1.5 cm. Texture:            Smooth, glabrous, rough in areas with cracking and            exfoliating bark. Color: Between 177A and 174A, with bark of            177A and 200A.        -   Branches.—Freely branching. Strength: Moderately strong.            Quantity: Approximately 10 main branches. Appearance: Dull,            covered with scale-like leaves. Arrangement: Opposite.            Length: Approximately 30.0 cm to 33.0 cm. Diameter:            Approximately 4.0 mm. Internode length at midpoint:            Approximately 1.3 cm. Texture: Glabrous. Color of young            stem: 164A with streaks of 165A. Color of mature stem: 174A            with streaks of 201A.-   Foliage description:    -   -   General description.—Type: Approximately 50% compound and            50% simple. Arrangement: Opposite. Quantity per lateral            branch: Approximately 12 to 14.        -   Leaves.—Shape: Paripinnate, with an overall oblong shape.            Appearance: Dull. Apex: Acute. Base: Attenuate. Margin:            Entire. Length: Approximately 3.0 cm to 5.0 cm. Width:            Approximately 3.2 cm. Leaflet shape: Ligulate. Leaflet apex:            Acute. Leaflet base: Attenuate to Rounded. Leaflet margin:            Entire. Leaflet length: Approximately 1.5 cm. Leaflet width:            Approximately 2.0 mm. Texture of upper and lower surfaces:            Smooth, glabrous. Venation pattern: Parallel. Color of upper            surface of young foliage: 144A and N144B with venation            indistinguishable from leaf lamina. Color of lower surface            of young foliage: 144A and N144B with venation            indistinguishable from leaf lamina. Color of upper surface            of mature foliage: 144A and N144B, in the fall transitions            to a greyed orange 170A through 170C. Color of lower surface            of mature foliage: 144B, in the fall transitions to a greyed            orange 166D.        -   Petiole.—Length: Approximately 3.0 mm. Diameter:            Approximately 2.0 mm. Texture: Smooth, glabrous. Color:            N144B.-   Cone and seed production: Not available, cone and seed production    were not observed.-   Disease and pest resistance: Plants of the new Metasequoia have not    been noted to be resistant to pathogens and pests common to    Metasequoia.-   Weather tolerance: Plants of the new Metasequoia have been observed    to tolerate high temperatures of about 40° C. (104° F.) and low    temperatures of about −16° C. (3.2° F.).

What is claimed is:
 1. A new and distinct cultivar of Metasequoia plantnamed ‘WAH-08AG’, substantially as herein illustrated and described.